There’s much to consider when looking for the ideal University of Oxford student accommodation, especially if you don’t know the city too well. Fortunately, Oxford offers individuals a vast selection of property types, whether you want to live near all the shops with all your friends or in a quieter and more distant suburb.
Since the University of Oxford isn’t a campus university, most students choose to live all over this beautiful city, where there is something to suit everyone. For example, IQ Alice House is a popular student accommodation near the University of Oxford, thanks to being a convenient 15-minute walk from many of the institution’s colleges and a selection of entertainment venues, shops, and restaurants. It boasts a variety of social spaces to help you chill out with friends or grab some productive study time. There are many types of Oxford University private accommodation, from the heart of the city centre to the much sought-after Student Castle. This property comes equipped with a pool table, televisions, and a friendly maintenance team, amongst a handful of other fantastic amenities.
Whatever your tastes and wherever you end up, the city provides efficient transport links around the area and to other cities, including London. Oxford can stop you from being late for an early morning lecture ever again with its provision of pretty walking routes, plentiful buses, and fast trains, as well as a variety of cycle paths that saw Oxford University in our list of top ten cycling-friendly universities.
With such a prestigious reputation, it is no surprise that The Complete University Guide ranks this institution 1st in the UK, and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings have ranked this incredible institution as the best in the world for eight consecutive years, the only university to have achieved this. Oxford University is renowned the world over for its academic excellence and quality of teaching for all taught courses and research programmes, making it one of the most sought-after universities in the world for prospective students.
You can find this university in Oxford in central southern England. Since it isn’t a campus institution, you can find the colleges, libraries, departments, and Oxford halls of residence across the city. The university is divided into 44 separate colleges – colleges will include students from a variety of backgrounds and studying a range of courses, and all students will belong to a college. The college system encourages inter-disciplinary relationships, a sense of community and access to certain facilities and support within your college. You can find our rankings of some of the best Oxford colleges on our blog.
Due to its excellent reputation, it’s no wonder that Oxford graduate outcomes are impressive. Indeed, around 80% of Oxford graduates secure employment around 15 months after graduation, and in the Oxford Graduate Outcomes survey 2018-2020, 86% of Oxford leavers agreed their current work was “meaningful and important” to them.
Like any university in England, home students at Oxford University must pay a fee of £9,250 for full-time programmes. Part-time courses remain at the standard £6,935. As always, international students have to pay higher prices, which are enclosed in each individual’s offer letter.
There are plenty of funding opportunities to discover at Oxford, including various scholarships and bursaries. For example, UK students may be eligible for Crankstart Scholarships if their household income falls below £32,500. This funding opportunity supports students with living and study fees and provides valuable access to internships and volunteer roles. Other funding opportunities include the Student Support Fund Bursary, which intends to financially support students in various circumstances. This university takes pride in supporting its students with non-repayable funds and has already helped support countless students pay for accommodation.
This city works to ensure any student’s experience here is unforgettable. Oxford itself boasts plenty of amenities, with a range of cafes, bars, clothes shops, charity shops, eateries, cinemas, and nightclubs at students’ fingertips. The city is even home to two theatres where individuals can embrace their artistic side, as well as more informal entertainment venues perfect for letting your hair down. Exploring culture further, students can enjoy various galleries and museums dotted around the city or support local talent in live gig venues.
If you love to unwind from your studies by getting back to nature, you’ll love Oxford’s variation of green spaces, parks, and stunning riverside walks. If keeping active is more of your thing, don’t miss the city’s best leisure centres, swimming pools, athletics facilities, and ice rink. The university also celebrates sport in its range of clubs – it has over 80 sports clubs and many college teams, helping you embrace your physical health and make new friends.
If you don’t like sport, you don’t need to worry – the Students’ Union puts on many other non-sport-related events and societies, with the Freshers’ Fair displaying all the academic and recreational opportunities students can try out while studying in the city. The Union even gives a helping hand to things like student media and volunteer charity campaigns, which can be fantastic for boosting your CV and helping you find out what career you want to do.
At the University of Oxford, you’ll also be able to take part in a host of unique traditions, some going back hundreds of years. You will matriculate (have membership to the university conferred) in your first term, wear sub fusc (traditional academic dress) to your exams and learn which parts of the grass you can walk on around different buildings.
The University of Oxford is a city university, meaning all its departments aren’t situated together. The institution comprises various colleges, halls, and academic departments, all of which can be found around different parts of Oxford’s city centre.
The best University of Oxford student accommodation can only really be judged on personal preference. Many different property types exist, including studios, shared houses, and ensuite flats. Different types come with different options, including catered and non-catered options, so what you find to be the best is really down to your taste and budget.
You can apply for student accommodation in first year at the University of Oxford through the institution’s website, where you will find an accommodation portal. If you have your eye on private student accommodation, you should contact providers through our easy-to-use contact form. Whatever approach you choose, you should try to book your Oxford Uni accommodation as soon as possible to ensure you secure something you like.
Student accommodation near the University of Oxford can vary in price and different factors can considerably affect this amount. For example, studios will cost more than shared houses, while ensuites will cost more than rooms with shared bathrooms. Furthermore, properties on the outskirts will be more affordable than those in the thick of the town centre, while non-catered options will generally be cheaper than catered alternatives.
Like most UK institutions, the University of Oxford hosts open days to allow prospective students to view the different academic department buildings, city, and possibly some accommodation options. If you don’t get to view all the accommodation types you were hoping to see, you can hop on the university’s website to explore opportunities in more detail. Alternatively, use our contact form to get in touch with accommodation providers; most will be willing to offer you a viewing either in person or virtually.
Oxford is renowned for boasting many different independent colleges, to which students belong and make their home. It currently boasts 44 colleges, including five permanent private halls, which still to this day preserve their historical religious background. Of course, to get in any of these colleges, you’ll need to best prepare for a university interview and pass through the competitive stages to earn your place.
Most students choose to live in the heart of the city centre, but other popular areas for student accommodation in Oxford include Jericho, Summertown and Marston.
With an extensive list of renowned Oxford Colleges to choose from, selecting the best and most popular Oxford college can seem overwhelming. We’ve heard your struggles, and have compiled a list of ten of the best Oxford Colleges, along with what makes them a unique place to study and how you can plan a visit…
